Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than 3 months. About one quarter of kids and teens have this type of pain. Chronic pain includes problems like frequent headaches, stomachaches, or ongoing joint or muscle pain and it often interferes with kids’ sleep, school, activities, and friendships. Even though chronic pain can have a big impact on kids’ lives, “chronic” does not mean “permanent.” Most kids recover from chronic pain. However, many kids are surprised to hear that a part of getting better involves learning a group of skills that are based in psychology. These skills include a combination of mind-body relaxation techniques and strategies for breaking the cycles of pain focused thoughts and avoidance behaviors. Learning these skills helps to boost feelings of comfort, lowers pain, and gets kids back to doing the things they love!
Assessment of avoidance behaviors in mouse models of muscle pain
